New charges introduced at two boat ramps on Lake Benmore have come under fire, but were yesterday defended by the Waitaki District Council, which pointed out its ratepayers were subsidising the facilities.
The council has received two complaints from the Timaru area and on Saturday there was a dispute at one of the ramps when some boat users refused to pay the new $5 daily launch fee or $80 for a season ticket, calling police.
The Falstone and Ohau C camps and ramps, on the lake's Haldon arm, are operated by the Aubrey family under a council management licence.
The charges were introduced as a trial, but could be extended to other Waitaki lakes facilities.
The charges go towards the cost of maintaining and developing rubbish, parking and toilet facilities.
Campers at Falstone and Ohau C who have season tickets do not have to pay the ramp fees as they are included in the ticket cost.
Waitaki council property manager Dougall McIntyre said yesterday the camps and launch facilities ran at a $90,000 loss last financial year.
That was paid by Waitaki's ratepayers through a camp rate and by Meridian Energy Ltd through its rate.
Ben Aubrey said there had been a "hugely positive reaction" to the charge, especially from Falstone and Ohau C campers.
"Some of them [campers] even offered to work in shifts to help us police the charges," he said.
There had been the "odd complaint", but he said most people had accepted the charges.
In the past, the costs were borne by Land Information NZ, which owned the reserves areas but were managed by the Waimate and Waitaki councils under licences.
The reserves and boating facilities are now being transferred to the councils, meaning they will have to meet all the costs.
